Excavating-machine.



J. ENGELBRECHT.

EXCAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26. 1916.

Patented Apr. 10, 1917 m mm 2 SHEETS-S15 I.

awn 0mm J. ENGELBRECHT I. ENGELBRECHT.

EXCAVATLNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26-. 1916.

Patented A r. 10, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEEI 2.

Elmo/whoa J 'ENGELmR cHT JULIUS ENGELBRECHT, OF BOONE, COLORADO.

EXGAVATING-IVIACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. io, iaiv.

Application filed June 26, 1916. Serial No. 106,009.

To aZZ whom it may camera:

Be it known that l, JULIUS ENGELBREOHT, a c1t1zen of the United States, residing at Boone, in the county of Pueblo and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Excavating-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanymg drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in excavating machines and has relation more particularly to a device of this general character especially designed and adapted for use in the production orcleansing of laterals or other ditches; and it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device of a scraper type wherein the width of the cutting operation for the side banks may be readily and conveniently regulated and whereby the depth of a cut may be controlled.

Furthermore it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this general character with novel and improved means whereby the same may be readily and convenientlytransported from one operation to another.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved machine whereby certain important advanta es are attained and the device is rendere simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, T will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein-- Figure 1 is a view in top plan illustrating an excavating machine constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2'is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken through the device as herein embodied at substantially the transverse center thereof, the slide being indicated in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken through the rear portion of the device as herein set forth; a

Fig. 4: is a fragmentary view partly in'top plan and partly in section illustrating certain details of construction as herein dis closed; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of a diagrammatic nature for illustrating the pivotal connection between a side member of the head and a coacting wing.

As disclosed in the accom anying drawings, H denotes the head 0 my improved machine comprising the parallel side members 1 and the converging V-shaped front end or point 2. The head is provided at its forward end with the plow member 3. The forward ends of the members 1 are also tied or connected by the transversely disposed.

perceived that the wheel W may be raised or lowered in accordance with the requirements of practice, and whereby the extent of penetration of the plow 3 may be determined.

11 denotes a yoke member secured to the rear portions of the members 1 and which is also secured to the slide member 12 which is adapted to rest upon the surface with which my improved machine coacts, and said slide 12 is provided with anysuitable means, as indicated at 14, to coact with the lever 10 for maintaining the wheel W in its various adjustments.

Pivotally en aged with the rear or free end portions 0 each of the members 1 is a side member or wing 15 adapted to be adjusted in a vertical direction and also in a lateral or transverse direction and is pro-,

vided intermediate its length with the inwardly disposed arm 16 in'overlappingrelation with a similar arm carried by the second side member or wing 15.

Extending upwardly from the slide 12 is the post or standard 17 with which coacts the vertically movable plate 18 which rotatably supports the gear wheel 19 in mesh with the racks 20 carried by the overlapping extremities of the bars 21, the outer extremities of which being pivotally engaged with the side members or wings 15 whereby it will be perceived that upon proper rotation being imparted to the gear 19, the side members or wings 15 may be retracted or extended in accordance with the requirements of practice. The inner ends of the bars 21 are provided with the eyes 22 which serve as guides for the inner ends of said bars 21, as is thought to be clearly disclosed in the accompanying drawings.

The upper end portion of the post or standard 17 is provided with the drum or Windlass 23 which is operatively connected with the movable plate 18 through the medium of the flexible member 24, whereby it will be perceived that upon requisite rotation being imparted to the Windlass or drum 23, the rear or free end portions of the side members or wings 15 may be elevated as desired, it being understood that the plate 18 is operatively engaged with the arms 16. It will be readily understood that the slope of the side walls of the ditch or lateral may be regulated by the longitudinal inclination of the side members or wings 15.

The side members or wings 15 have secured thereto the cutting plates 25, the penetrating edges of which beingcurved, as indicated at 26, to'facilitate the cutting action.

Each of the side members or wings 15 adjacent its rear or free end is provided with a lever 27 pivotally engaged intermediate its length with the side member or wing and has operatively engaged with its lower end the caster wheel 28, whereby it will be perceived that when desired the side members or wings 15 may be entirely raised from the ground, whereby transportation of the device from one operation to another is materially facilitated and whereby the degree of penetration of the cutting plates 25 may be regulated.

I also find it of advantage to pivotally engage with each of the side members or wings 15 at a predetermined point intermediate the length thereof, the elongated knife or cutting member 29 which is adapted for movement in substantially a vertical plane and which serves as a means to cut awa weeds or other growth adjacent the ditch or lateral. As herein embodied, said cutting member or knife29 may be adjustedinto operative position or inoperative position, as the occasion may require, through the medium of the lever 30.

. ers 1 the brace bars 33.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a machine constructed in accordance with my invention is of an extremely simple and comparativel inexpensive nature and is particularly we 1 adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without material departure from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a head provided with digging means, a slide disposed rearwardly of the head, side scraping members pivotally engaged with the rear portion of the head at opposite sides of the slide and adapted for lateral swinging movement and for vertical swinging movement, an upright carried by the slide, a plate slidably engaged with the upright, means carried by the upright for imparting upward movement to the plate, inwardly disposed arms carried by the side -members slidably engaged with the plate and whereby said side members are swung upwardly upon upward movement being imparted to the plate, inwardly disposed racks carried by the side members and in overlapping relation, a gear wheel rotatably supported by the plate intermediate the overlapping portions of the racks and in mesh with said racks, and means for rotating the gear wheel whereby said side members are swung laterally in unison but in opposite directions.

2. A device of the character described comprising a head provided with digging means, a slide disposed rearwardly of the head, side scraping members pivotally engaged with the rear portion of the head at opposite sides of the slide and adapted for lateral swinging movement and for vertical swinging movement, an upright carried by the slide, a plate slidably engaged with the upright, means carried by the upright for imparting upward movement to the plate, inwardly disposed arms carried by the side members slidably engaged with the plate and whereby said side members are swung upwardly upon upward movement being imparted to the plate, inwardly disposed racks carried by the side members and in tween the pivoted ends of the side menu-- overlapping relation, a gear wheel rotatably bers and pivotally engaged therewith. 10 supported by the plate intermediate the In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my overlapping portions of the racks and in signature in the presence of two witnesses. mesh with said racks, means for rotating the JULIUS ENGELBRECHT.

gear wheel whereby said side members are Witnesses: I swung laterally in unison but in opposite FREDERICK W.'HAVER, directions, and a brace bar interposed be- A. E. SMITH. 

